Southborough’s Annual Town Meeting gets underway one week from today. (You’ll be there, right? Right?). To help you with your vote, this week we’ll be taking a look at some of the articles that appear on the warrant this year. I’ll share what information I have, but I encourage you to ask questions and share your opinions in the comments below. First up is a series of articles that aims to change aspects of our town government. Read the full article → from On the warrant: Giving the town administrator more authority, expanding the Board of Selectmen (Articles 7-9)
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Selectmen ratify new three-year contract for police officers
The Board of Selectmen announced at their meeting last night they have reached a “fair and equitable” agreement with the police union on a new 3-year contract. The agreement marks the end of negotiations on the second of four municipal contracts set to expire later this year. Read the full article → from Selectmen ratify new three-year contract for police officers
Superintendent to discuss school budget at the Senior Center on Wednesday
Southborough’s K-8 school budget has received stamps of approval from all key boards and committees, now it just needs a stamp of approval from voters. Toward that end, Superintendent Charles Gobron will make his annual visit to the Senior Center on Wednesday to discuss his department’s request. Read the full article → from Superintendent to discuss school budget at the Senior Center on Wednesday
MWDN: Official says Southborough tax increase likely lower this year
An increase is still an increase, but it looks like things won’t be quite as bad for Southborough taxpayers this year as officials had originally feared. Read the full article → from MWDN: Official says Southborough tax increase likely lower this year
Southborough K-8 School Committee approves $17 million schools budget
Back in January Superintendent Charles Gobron told the K-8 School Committee the district may have to eliminate up to four full-time positions to make the budget numbers work. Last night he told the committee he was recommending the reduction of only two positions thanks to a budget “gamble” on special education funding. Read the full article → from Southborough K-8 School Committee approves $17 million schools budget
Learn about proposed changes to Southborough’s town government – TONIGHT
Legislation to move to a town manager style of government failed narrowly at Town Meeting last year, but proponents of the idea have continued their effort to bring some of the changes proposed in the legislation to bear. Tonight the Board of Selectmen will hear a presentation on three related articles that will come before voters at Town Meeting this year. Read the full article → from Learn about proposed changes to Southborough’s town government – TONIGHT
Voters could face a Prop 2-1/2 override next year, selectmen call financial projections ‘troubling’
Expenses are going up and revenue is going down. That was the conclusion of a 5-year financial analysis recently completed by Town Accountant Brian Ballantine. It’s a scenario that could have voters facing a Proposition 2-1/2 override vote as soon as next year. Read the full article → from Voters could face a Prop 2-1/2 override next year, selectmen call financial projections ‘troubling’
MWDN: Superintendent recommends five new teachers at Algonquin
Superintendent Charles Gobron presented a preliminary budget for Algonquin at the Regional School Committee meeting last night. The $19.4M budget, which is $893K above the current year’s budget, includes a request for five new teachers and an additional assistant principal. Read the full article → from MWDN: Superintendent recommends five new teachers at Algonquin
Southborough schools could face staff reductions next year
Superintendent Charles Gobron unveiled preliminary fiscal year 2014 budget numbers for the Southborough K-8 schools last night. The early numbers have the schools coming in at about $17.6M, a 4.06% increase over the current fiscal year. Read the full article → from Southborough schools could face staff reductions next year
Southborough selectmen get early look at budget numbers
When it comes to the numbers, there are still more unknowns than there are knowns, but the Board of Selectmen last night got an early look at the municipal budget for fiscal year 2014. All indications suggest it’s going to be another tight year. Read the full article → from Southborough selectmen get early look at budget numbers